第36部分(第1/7 頁)

〃There's　no　sign　of　him—just　a　little　blood　again。〃　Charlie's　face　was

pained。　〃The　rangers　are　going　out

armed；　taking　armed　volunteers。　There're　a　lot　of　hunters　who　are　eager　to　be

involved—there's　a

reward　being　offered　for　wolf　carcasses。　That's　going　to　mean　a　lot　of

firepower　out　there　in　the　forest；

and　it　worries　me。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃When　people　get　too　excited；　accidents

happen〃

〃They're　going　to　shoot　the　wolves？〃　My　voice　shot　through　three　octaves。

〃What　else　can　we　do？　What's　wrong？〃　he　asked；　his　tense　eyes　studying　my

face。　I　felt　faint；　I　must　be

whiter　than　usual。　〃You　aren't　turning　into　a　tree…hugger　on　me；　are　you？〃

I　couldn't　answer。　If　he　hadn't　been　watching　me；　I　would　have　put　my　head

between　my　knees。　I'd

forgotten　about　the　missing　hikers；　the　bloody　paw　prints　I　hadn't　connected

those　facts　to　my　first

realization。

〃Look；　honey；　don't　let　this　scare　you。　Just　stay　in　town　or　on　the　highway—

no　stops—okay？〃

〃Okay；〃　I　repeated　in　a　weak　voice。

〃I've　got　to　go。〃

I　looked　at　him　closely　for　the　first　time；　and　saw　that　he　had　his　gun

strapped　to　his　waist　and　hiking

boots　on。

〃You　aren't　going　out　there　after　the　wolves；　are　you；　Dad？〃

〃I've　got　to　help；　Bells。　People　are　disappearing。〃

My　voice　shot　up　again；　almost　hysterical　now。　〃No！　No；　don't　go。　It's　too

dangerous！〃

〃I've　got　to　do　my　job；　kid。　Don't　be　such　a　pessimist—I'll　be　fine。〃　He

turned　for　the　door；　and　held　it

open。　〃You　leaving？〃

I　hesitated；　my　stomach　still　spinning　in　unfortable　loops。　What　could　I

say　to　stop　him？　I　was　too

dizzy　to　think　o